NERS NEWS — In an effort to support the improvement of health literacy among patients’ families, Ners Professional Program students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga conducted a Hospital Health Education (PKRS) activity themed “Be Aware of and Prevent Pneumonia in Children from an Early Age” in the NICU/PICU ward of Universitas Airlangga Hospital on Friday, May 8, 2026. This activity was intended for the families of NICU/PICU patients as a promotive and preventive effort to enhance understanding regarding the early detection, prevention, and management of pneumonia in children. This activity was conducted under the academic supervision of Nuzul Qur’aniati, S.Kep., Ns., MNg., PhD, and clinical supervisor Devina Nawangsih, S.Kep., Ns.
The health education session was conducted directly in the NICU/PICU family waiting room using leaflets and educational posters as media. The materials provided included the definition of pneumonia, the causes of pneumonia in children, signs and symptoms that need to be recognized, management, and early prevention measures for pneumonia. The students explained that pneumonia is an acute respiratory tract infection that affects the lungs and remains one of the leading causes of death in children, especially those under five years old. The education was delivered using simple and easy-to-understand language so that patients’ families could recognize warning signs such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest wall retractions, fever, and bluish discoloration of the child’s nails or lips.
During the activity, participants demonstrated great enthusiasm through interactive discussion and question-and-answer sessions. Several patients’ family members asked questions regarding the initial management when a child experiences seizures and the complications that may occur if pneumonia is not treated promptly. During the discussion session, the students, together with the clinical supervisor, provided education regarding first aid measures when a child has seizures, the importance of monitoring body temperature, and awareness of signs of respiratory failure due to severe pneumonia. In addition, participants were also given an understanding of the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness, avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke, maintaining the child’s nutritional status, and undergoing routine health check-ups as preventive measures against pneumonia.
This PKRS activity aimed to improve the knowledge, awareness, and ability of patients’ families in preventing and detecting pneumonia in children at an early stage. The health education provided is expected to help families recognize emergency conditions in children so that treatment can be carried out more quickly and appropriately. This activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3, namely Good Health and Well-Being, through improving child health and providing preventive education to patients’ families, as well as Goal 4, namely Quality Education, through the provision of sustainable health education within the hospital environment.
The PKRS activity entitled “Be Aware of and Prevent Pneumonia in Children from an Early Age” was carried out smoothly and received positive responses from the families of NICU/PICU patients. Through this activity, it is hoped that patients’ families will better understand the importance of pneumonia prevention and be able to implement appropriate initial management and child care measures to support the optimal improvement of children’s health status.
Writer: Carista Dea Ammelia
